ABSTRACT
Background: Treponema pallidum and Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections are endemic in developing countries and poses public
health problem among HIV/AIDS adult patients. Co-infection of these pathogens might influence the outcome of HIV/AIDS and
in addition T.pallidum infection significantly increases the risk of contracting HIV infection. This study aimed at determining the
prevalence of these pathogens among HIV/AIDS adult patients attending Nyamagana district and Sekou Toure regional hospitals
in Mwanza city.

Methods: A cross-sectional hospital based study involved 130 HIV/AIDS adult patients attending care and treatment clinic at
Sekou Toure regional hospital and Nyamagana district hospital was done between June and July 2014. T.pallidum and hepatitis B
surface antigen (HBsAg) were detected using commercially available immunochromatographic rapid tests.

Results: Of the 130 HIV/AIDS adult patients, 9/130 (6.9%) had hepatitis B surface antigen positive test while 18(13.85%) were
positive for syphilis. Co infection of T.pallidum and hepatitis B virus occurred in 2/130 (1.5%) of participants. There were no any
factors that significantly associated with positive hepatitis B surface antigen while multiple sexual partners and history of
sexually transmitted diseases were significantly associated with positive syphilis test (P= 0.023 and 0.001 respectively).

Conclusions and recommendations: In this setting co infection of Hepatitis B virus and T.pallidum is low. However, individual
infections are high necessitating routine screening of these pathogens among HIV/AIDS patients so that appropriate treatment
can be initiated.